Charging that religious inscriptions on the walls of the Cambridge Public Library breach separation of church and state doctrine, an Arlington resident has said he will sue the city of Cambridge unless the writings are removed immediately.

The tablets--which cover an entire wall of the library's old reading room--contain the Ten Commandments, several proverbs and quotes by St. Paul the Apostle.

The inscriptions are permanently carved into one wall of the library, which was built and donated to the city by Frederick Hastings Rindge in 1889. According to the building's deed. Rindge's gift was made with the stipulation that the tablets be "maintained forever in the same position or ...some equally public and conspicuous position."

Eric T. Chester, 51, charged in an interview with The Crimson that the writings violate the First Amendment and the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In particular, Chester cited one of the plaques which says the library was "built in gratitude to God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost."

"It venerates God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost," Chester said. "That definitely proselytizes a certain religious viewpoint. It has no business being on the walls of a public building."

Chester also said that another tablet, which reads "Wise are they who protect the purity of their blood and preserve their strength by living ,pure lives," is "racist, anti-Semitic andhomophobic."

"Rindge put this up before the Holocaust,"Chester says. "We now understand the true meaningof these type messages."

City officials, however said Chester ismisinterpreting the writings and that they wouldoppose his efforts of remove them.

According to City Councillor Sheila T. Russellthe inscriptions are lyric messages about actingethically and revering one's family.

"You can interpret that any way you want,"Russell said. "This is getting crazy. We shouldn'tremove it".

Historical Background

Acting under the advice of City Manager RobertW. Healy and Deputy City Solicitor DonaldDrisdell library official have posted a disclaimernext to the exhibit which explains its historicalcontext and meaning, said Donald A. York, alibrary employee.

The note explains that the sayings were left byRindge and must be maintained permanently in orderto satisfy the deed's language. The letter alsosays that the city is not endorsing any religiousbeliefs or attempting to impose any particularviews upon library patrons.

"The city continues to preserve the tablets intheir original form in recognition of theirhistorical importance and in recognition of thehistorical commitment of the city to the donor,"the message reads.

City Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio said hethinks the message should settle any legalquestions-- and that it will also enrich thedisplay.